Braves Release Nine Minor Leaguers

Prior to the start of the Minor League season today the Braves cut ties with nine players from their Minor League system, including right handed pitchers Rudy Darrow, Patrick Currin, and Mikey Mehlich, catcher JR House, infielders Greg Creek, Michael Fisher, and Stephen Shults, and outfielders Antoan Richardson and CJ Lee.

The sidearming Darrow was acquired for Josh Anderson from the Tigers last Spring. He started 09 with Mississippi but was bombed out in 9 games, racking up a 9.31 ERA and 2.71 WHIP. He fared better in 24 games with Myrtle Beach, but not much better, with a 6.07 ERA and 1.89 WHIP. The 26 year old Currin pitched well for Myrtle Beach after being signed mid-season, posting a3.28 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 20 games, but couldn't secure himself a roster spot this Spring.

Creek, originally signed as a non-drafted free agent, spent the last three years at Mississippi, hitting .250 with a .688 OPS in 295 games and over 1000 plate appearances there. Fisher, a 6th round pick in Atlanta's lucrative 07 draft, made it to Myrtle Beach in 09, but never did much with the bat as a pro, hitting .255 with a .649 OPS in 1235 career plate appearances. Shults, who also played some outfield, showed some promise early with the bat, but had trouble getting into games, appearing in just 153 in his 3 pro seasons, hitting .246 with a .712 OPS. Lee, who our own royhobbs once inexcusably confused for Jason Heyward, mostly served as a backup, hitting .239 with a .637 OPS in 3 pro seasons.

Neither House nor Richardson were given the chance to play a regular season game for an Atlanta affiliate. House, who was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, has spent time in the Majors with the Orioles and Astros and has been a force in 5 AAA seasons, hitting .293 with a .809 OPS in nearly 2000 at bats. The speedy, but light hitting Richardson spent time in the independent Northern League last season after being released from the Giants' organization.